Obituary of Pearl Sowatzke-Shearier

Pearl Sowatzke- Shearier, 93, of Wisconsin Rapids, died Monday, February 3, 2014, at Edgewater Haven Nursing Home in Port Edwards. Services will at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, February 6th at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. John Grohs will officiate. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service on Thursday at the church. Pearl graduated from Pittsville High School. She and her first husband, Art owned and operated Sowatzke's Drive-In located in Wisconsin Rapids for 15 years. She and Art enjoyed wintering in Florida. After Art's passing, Pearl married William (Nig) Shearier. They loved dancing together and their time spent at their vacation homes, first in Minoqua and later at Lake Dubay. Survivors include her husband, William; son, James (Beth) Sowatzke of Wisconsin Rapids; grandchildren, Jess (Stephanie) Heltsley, Carrie Heltsley (fiancé Adam Grobe), and Valerie Heltsley (fiancé Kris Kaminski); great-grandson, Isaac Heltsley; sister-in-law, Dorothy Sowatzke, and many nieces and nephews. She is further survived by Nig's children Jim (Mary Ann) Shearier, Indianapolis; Jack (Sandra) Shearier, Wisconsin Rapids; Jeff (Sandra) Shearier, Wisconsin Rapids; Joseph (Kay) Shearier, Nekoosa; Jed Shearier, Wisconsin Rapids; and JohnnyLu (Robert) Skerven, Nekoosa; 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Arthur F. Sowatzke; parents, Arthur and Katherine Whitney; and brothers, Kenneth and Clifford Whitney. Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Center is assisting the family with arrangements.